One dead in India train derailment

A passenger train derailed in India on Thursday, overturning several carriages and killing at least one person with rescue and relief efforts ongoing.

India’s railway network remains the main form of travel in the vast country, but it is poorly funded and deadly accidents often occur.

The Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express, a 22-car passenger service that spans a 2,640-kilometre stretch of the country, derailed near the northern Hindu holy city of Ayodhya, at around 2:30 pm (0900 GMT).

“According to the preliminary information that we have received from the site, one has been reported dead and seven others are injured,” Indian Railways spokesman Pankaj Singh told reporters. “Six have minor injuries while one has a grievous injury.”